Basing machine



June 17, 1941. M E; McGowAN 2,245,801

BASING MACHINE l Filed Oct. 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l I BY ALTTORNEY June 17, 1941. M, E. McGowAN BASING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed oct'. 22, 193e B vv/Z www ATTORNEY June 17, 1941. M, E. McGowAN .2,245,801

BASI/NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /17 L LTTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 barren srrss FFICE.

BASNG MACK-HNE applicaties october ze, rese, serial No. reino-i 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a basing machine and more particularly to an apparatus for preiiilling incandescent electric lamp bases in a manner involving greater speed.

In previous machines for prefilling lamp bases, such bases were iilled during a rest period in the machine, resulting in limiting production to the speed at which the machine could be indexed, to which was added the time required to prell the base.

A typical prior method ofrprelling bases involved the loading of a base in 'a holder, the movement of said holder to a position where the base was pressed therein, the further movement to a position beneath a cement feeding device, where the translatory motion of the base was stopped and it was' rotated Iabout its own axis, while a feed member descended to apply basing cement in a layer around the inner peripheral surface of the base. After this the feeding member was withdrawn, the prefilled base moved yalong one step, and a fresh base presented to the cement applying device.

It will be seen that in accordance with this method it is necessary to stop each base a sufcient length of time to allow the cement applying device to descend thereinto, and while the base is rotating to have the cement distributed around its full inner periphery.

In accordance with my invention, the base .f

prellng machine rotates continuously, the base being filled during a part of the cycle, and means being provided Ato feed the bases in a continuous stream to the base preiilling position;

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan of a base filling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, with parts in section, of the machine illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line III- III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. i is a fragmentary sectional View on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view on the iine V-V of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed elevational view, partly in section, of a lamp base Iafter being filled.

In the present embodiment, the base prelling machine l comprises a cement hopper 2, suitably supported, and

closed by a top plate 3, in

order to provide an air-tight chamber above the cement l therein, so `that compressed air may be introduced, Ias by means of a pipe 5, for causing the cement to flow out of a side outlet 6 from said hopper to said cement feeding device, valve head, disk or dial l.

The dial is mounted for rotation about normally horizontal journals 8 and 9 extending therefrom and desirably anti-frictionally mounted, by means ofball bearings Ill and I I, in standards or brackets l2 and i3, said brackets being secured to the same means, as base plate I4, which supports the hopper 2, as by tap bolts I5.

An electric motor l drives the dial 'I through pulley Il, belt l, pulley I9, shaft 20, worm 2l, and wheel 22, said wheel being desirably keyed to the journal 8' and held thereon by such means as a nut 23 secured to a reduced threaded portion 24.

In order to allow for feeding cement from the hopper' 2 to the valves 25 of the dial l, the journal S of said dial is formed hollow, to provide a cement-feeding passage 26, and desrably dares outwardly or toward the hopper 2. The flared portion 2l may be made separate from the journal 3 and threadedly secured'thereto, as indicated at 28, thereby allowing for the application and tightening of the inner ball raceway 29. The outer raceway 3l] may be held in the bracket I3 by the inwardly extending cylindrical flange 3l of the clamping member 32, secured in place by screws 33. The outer raceway 33' for the ball bearings ill may be secured in the bracket I2 by clamping member 32' in a manner similar to that for ball bearings ll. A bushing 21', engaged by the wheel 22, desirably serves to secure the inner raceway 2S' in place.

In order to avoid leakage between the rotating tubular member 21'and the side outlet' portion 6 of the hopper 2, a'gland 34 and packing means 35 are desirably provided.

The valves 2li, which extend radially from the outer annular portion 36 of the dial 1, which is secured to the hub portions 3l and 38 by tap bolts 352, are outwardly urged by helical springs Ml into engagement with the outwardly flaring conical closure pieces lll, said closure pieces desirably forming the end portions of tubes 42 through which cement t is fed from the space 43 between the dial hub portions 3l and 38. Each tube il is desirably formed with apertures 154 through which cement feeds to its valve chamber i5 from whence it may be discharged over the flared portion lil, to be deposited on the inner peripheral surface of the cooperating indexed lamp base 48.

The cylindrical outwardly opening apertures 4l which receive the valves 25, are desirably hushed, as indicated at 48, and both bushing and dial formed with an outlet 49 to relieve the pressure or vacuum, as the case may be, when one of the valves 25 moves. In order to avoid leakage of the cement, inwardly between the valve 25 and the pipe 42, packing 50 is desirably provided in the place indicated.

Adjacent each Valve 25 is provided a pair of fingers or arms 5l secured to the dial as by means of screws 52, and so formed that they initially engage the upper portion of the indexed base 46, for the purpose of moving said base along the curved track 53, which converges inwardly toward the axis of the dial 1, to cause said indexed base to automatically push the engaged valve to open position, as it slides inward over the fingers 5l, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, thereby causing the desired quantity of cement to be forced over the iiaring end portion 4| and be deposited on the inner peripheral surface of the engaged base 45, resulting in a base lled, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 6.

The bases 46 are desirably fed to the machine in a continuous stream along a path which may be parallel with the axis of rotation of the dial 1, and as each base is indexed with a valve 25, as by being deposited immediately below the lowermost valve, the base is engaged by the corresponding ngers 5l and rotated with the dial along the engaged track 53 until the end of the track is reached and the lled base discharged, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

In order to keep the bases in line, they are desirably fed to the machine along a trough Mandan indexed base engages a stop 55 at the end of the trough 54, said stop desirably having an indentation 55 receiving the base to thereby prevent it from being squeezed out, by the pressure of feeding the bases' to the machine, prior to its being picked up by fingers 5I. The actual line traveled by each base, as it is picked up, is indicated by the dot-dash arrow 5l in Fig. 4.

Although provision is made for forcing the cement 4 through the base prelling machine l by means of air pressure, as indicated, it will be understood that mechanical means for the purpose may be provided as an alternative, as for example a screw (not shown) mounted in the hopper 2, and revolvable to force cement into the passage 26. When the machine is in operation, the cement 4 is under pressure and fed as needed through the passage 2S, space 43, to the pipes 42 out of the apertures 44, into the chambers 45,

' from whence it is fed through such Valves 25 as may be opened to the indexed bases asI they pass along the track 53, until filled and discharged over the upper end of said track.

It will be understood that my invention provides means for applying cement from an annular orifice to lamp bases almost instantaneously over the full inner peripheral surface of each base, while it revolves about the axis of the cementfeeding dial, rather than distributing it from a small orifice around the inner surface of each base as it rotates about its own axis, as in some previously developed machines. It also avoids the necessity of stopping the movement of bases through the machine while the process of prefilling is being carried out, thereby making it possible to ll bases at the rate of from 8000 to 10,000 per hour.

It will be clear that several ways are available for adjusting the amount of cement fed to each base, in order that an adequate, but not excessive amount is applied. The greater the pressure applied to the cement, the more will be forced out during the opening of a valve for a given distance and for a given time. Normal air pressure previously employed, in prelling bases at the rate of about 3600 per hour, ranged from 40 to 60 pounds per square inch. Also, the faster the dial is rotated, the less cement will be received in each base. A further means of adjusting the amount of cement fed, is by changing the track 53 so that the valves are opened to a greater or less degree during the prelling operation.

Although a'preferred method and machine for accomplishing the purpose desired have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising a dial with a plurality of spring-closed cement-feeding valves extending radially therefrom, means for supplying cement to said dial and valves, means for applying pressure on said cement, means for indexing bases one by one with said valves, means for continuously rotating said dial, arms on said dial for engaging each base as it is indexed and rotating it therewith, and a curved track cooperating with said dial and on which said bases are carried when moved by said arms, said track converging toward the dial axis so that the bases move circumferentially and radially inward to open the indexed valves and simultaneously receive cement on their inner peripheral surfaces until the end of the track is reached and the bases discharged.

2. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising a dial with a plurality of spring-closed cement-feeding valves extending radially therefrom, said dial having hub portions defining a chamber connected to said valves and fed from a hollow journal portion extending from one `of said hub portions, means for rotating said dial, a cement hopper, means connecting said hopper to said hollow journal, means for applying air pressure on said cement to force it through said journal to said valves, means for indexing bases with said valves, one by one, as the dial rotates, arms secured to said dial adjacent each valve for engaging each base as it is indexed and revolving it therewith, and a curved track cooperating with said dial and on which said basesare carried when moved by said arms, said track converging toward the dial axis so that the bases move circumferentially and radially inward to open the indexed valves and simultaneously receive cement on their inner peripheral surfaces until the end of the track is reached and the bases discharged.

3. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising a dial with a plurality of spring-closed cement-feeding valves extending radially therefrom, means connected to said dial for supplying cement to said valves, means for indexing bases one by one with said valves, each valve comprising a spring-actuated valve-closing sleeve engaging an outwardly flaring plug member defining a cement receiving chamber therebetween, whereby when said sleeve is engaged by the indexed base, further inward movement of the latter opens said valve and allows cement to be deposited on the inner indexed and revolving it therewith, and a curved track cooperating with said dial and on which said bases are carried when moved by said arms, said track converging toward the dial axis so that the indexed bases are moved circumferentially and radially to open the corresponding valves and simultaneously receive cementl on their inner peripheral surfaces until the end of the track is reached and the bases discharged thereover, one by one, by the closing of the valves under the action of its operating springs. n

4. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising a dial with a plurality of spring-closed cement-feeding valves extending radially therefrom, means for supplying cement to said dial and valves, a trough carrying bases, in a direction substantial- 1y parallel to the axis of rotation of said dial, to a position beneath the lowermost valve, means for continuously rotating said dial, arms on said dial for engaging Ieach base as it is positioned therebeneath for revolving it with said dial, and a curved track cooperating with said dial and on which said bases are carried when moved by said arms, said track being formed to cause the bases to move simultaneously circumferentially and radially inward to open the engaged valves and simultaneously receive cement on their inner peripheral surfaces, and be discharged by the closing of the valves when the end of the track is reached.

5. A dial for feeding cement to lamp bases comprising an annular portion with radially extending outwardly opening Valve chambers, hub portions fitting said annular portion and defining a cement receiving pocket therebetween, said hub portions having outwardly extending journals for rotatably mounting said dial, o-ne of said journals being hollow to receive cement for said valve chambers, a radially movable valve mounted in each chamber, a spring for urging each valve outwardly, and a hollow valve closure device connected to said Valve chamber for receiving cement and delivering it between said device and valve.

6. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs, comprising means for.

causing said bases to move about an axis and simultaneously move toward said axis, and means for applying cement to the full periphery of the inner edge portion of each base while it is in motion.

'7. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising means for causing said bases to travel in a curved line about an axis, and simultaneously moving the same toward said axis, means for applying an annulus of cement to the inner edge prtion of each base while so moving, and means for discharging said bases one by one radially with respect to said axis.

8. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs, comprising a hollow dial rotatable on a hollow journal about a normally horizontal axis, means for forcing basing cement through said journal to said dial, said dial having a plurality of radialports opening at the periphery, a radially reciprocating valve normally closing each port, a cement-carrying tube in each port, a conically-aring port-closure piece mounted on each tube, said tubes being apertured adjacent said closure pieces for the discharge of cement thereover, a coil spring encircling each tube and resiliently urging the associated valve into closed position against its closure piece, means for rotating said dial, a trough disposed below said dial, means for feeding lamp bases along said trough until they one Vby one index with the then lowermost valve, pairs of arms mounted on said dial and disposed one on each side of each valve in order to pick up an indexed base as the dial rotates, and a track cooperating with said dial and on which said bases are carried when moved by said arms, said track rising from below the dial, in approximately the same plane, and converging toward the dial axis `in the direction of rotation of said dial, so that the bases are moved circumferentially and radially inward along said track by said arms to push in on and open their associated valves, to simultaneously receive cement, squeezed between said valves and closure pieces, on their inner peripheral surfaces, until the end of the track is reached and the bases discharged, one by one, by the action of the valve-closing springs.

9. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs, comprising a disk rotatable about an axis normal thereto and carrying a cement-feeding valve opening radially, means for supplying cement to said valve, means for applying pressure on said cement, means for indexing a base with said valve, means for moving said valve about said axis, arms engaging said base as it is indexed and moving it circumferentially with said valve, and a track on which said base is carried when moved by said arms, said track converging in the plane of said disk toward the path of movement of said Valve to cause the base to open it and receive cement on its inner peripheral surface.

10. A machine for preparing bases for attachment to evacuated bulbs comprising a cementapplying valve, means for supplying cement to said valve, means for applying pressure to the cement to cause it to feed to said valve, means for carrying said valve along a certain path, means for indexing a base with said valve, means associated with said valve-carrying means for moving said base along with said valve to keep both in registry for properly applying cement to the former, and means independent of the basemoving means for causing relative movement between said base and valve, while moved by said valve-carrying means, to effect opening of said valve and application of an annulus of cement to said base while in motion.

MICHAEL E. MCGOWAN. 

